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Hiroshi Ikegami

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroshi Ikegami.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The discovery of pyridalyl: a novel insecticidal agent for controlling lepidopterous pests.

Synthesis of analogues of two compounds with known insecticidal activity, both of which contain a 3,3-dichloro-2-propenyloxy group, produced 2-(trifluoromethyl)-4-phenoxyphenyl 3,3-dichloro-2-propenyl ether, which had weak activity against lepidopterous larvae. Structural modifications around this lead compound led to the development of pyridalyl [Pleo, S-1812; 2,6-dichloro-4-(3,3-dichloroallyloxy)phenyl 3-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyloxy]propyl ether], which belongs to a new class of insecticides. Pyridalyl gives very good control of various lepidopterous and thysanopterous pests on cotton and vegetables, without phytotoxicity. It controls populations of Heliothis virescens F and Plutella xylostella (L) which are resistant to various currently used insecticides. It also produces unique insecticidal symptoms, so it may have a different mode of action from other existing insecticides. Pyridalyl is also less harmful than existing insecticides to various beneficial arthropods, so it should provide an important tool in IPM and insecticidal management programmes for the control of lepidopterous and thysanopterous pests. The first market introduction is expected in Japan and some Asian countries in the years between 2004 and 2005.

Animals↗

A common polymorphism of uncoupling protein 2 gene is associated with hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: The genes responsible for obesity are also candidate genes for obesity-related conditions, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes. A functional polymorphism in the uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) promoter has been reported to be associated with obesity in Caucasians. To clarify the contribution of this polymorphism to obesity and related conditions, we studied the association of the -866 G/A polymorphism of the UCP2 gene with obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A total of 632 unrelated Japanese subjects were studied: 342 type 2 diabetic patients (among them, 158 patients complicated with hypertension), 156 hypertensive patients without diabetes mellitus and 134 control subjects. The -866 G/A polymorphism of UCP2 was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: The frequency of the minor A allele was significantly higher in Japanese than in Caucasians (48.9 versus 37.2%, P=0.01). In contrast to the significant association with obesity in Caucasians, the polymorphism was not associated with obesity in Japanese. The polymorphism, however, was significantly associated with hypertension in Japanese (frequency of A allele: 51.8% in hypertensives versus 46.6% in normotensives, P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin level or HOMA-R between patients with different genotypes. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the polymorphism of the UCP2 gene is associated with hypertension, and suggest the possibility of UCP2 as a target molecule for studies on the etiology and treatment of hypertension.

Adult↗

Mannose binding lectin gene polymorphism in patients with type I diabetes.

Our purpose was to investigate a possible relationship between occurrence of type I diabetes and polymorphism of the mannose binding lectin gene. Polymorphism of codon 54 of the mannose binding lectin (MBL) gene, whose presence of the minority allele leads to significant reduction of serum MBL concentration, was investigated in 128 Japanese patients with type I diabetes and 78 healthy volunteers by restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Frequencies of the minority allele were compared between the patient group and the control group. Frequency of the minority allele was 24.2% in the patient group and 19.9% in the control group. The probability of being heterozygous or homozygous for the minority allele was 41.4% in the patient group and 33.3% in the control group. Patients with DRB1*0405-DQB1*0401 and/or DRB1*0901-DQB1*0303 haplotypes, the two major type I diabetes-prone human leukocyte antigen haplotypes, showed a slightly higher probability of being heterozygous or homozygous for allele B of the MBL gene. Possession of the minority allele of the MBL gene may be a minor risk factor for having type I diabetes.

Age of Onset↗

Stromal-cell derived factor-1 chemokine gene variant is associated with type 1 diabetes age at onset in Japanese population.

Stromal-cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a powerful chemokine that upregulates T-cell migration and activation. The gene for SDF-1 is located near type 1 diabetes susceptibility locus IDDM10, suggesting a contribution by SDF-1 to the induction of diabetes. Recently the role of SDF-1 gene polymorphism in the clinical presentation of type 1 diabetes in French population has been reported. To test the putative involvement of SDF-1 gene polymorphism in predisposition to or clinical heterogeneity of type 1 diabetes in Japanese population, we conducted the case-control study. The SDF1-3'A variant (801 G to A in the 3'-untranslated region) was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique in 184 patients with abrupt-onset type 1 diabetes and 106 healthy control subjects. No significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies of SDF1-3'A variant was found between type 1 diabetic patients and healthy controls. However, the SDF1-3'A variant was strongly associated with early-onset diabetes in a recessive model (AA versus AG + GG, p = 0.017). The mean age-at-onset in patients carrying SDF1-3'AA genotype was significantly younger than that in patients with SDF1-3' AG or GG genotype (p = 0.028). The frequencies of SDF1-3' A variant were significantly increased in HLA-DR4/9 patients compared with non-DR4/9 patients (p = 0.008). These results suggest that the SDF-1 gene polymorphism is associated with the age-at-onset of type 1 diabetes in Japanese population.

Adolescent↗

High-level expression of interleukin-4 following electroporation-mediated gene transfer accelerates Type 1 diabetes in NOD mice.

Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice develop T cell-dependent autoimmune disease. Administration of interleukin-4 (IL-4), one of the T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, is reported to prevent either insulitis or diabetes or both in NOD mice. We examined the effect of transferring an IL-4-expressing plasmid vector into muscle by in vivo electroporation on the progression of diabetes in NOD mice. Plasmid DNA expressing murine IL-4 (pCAGGS-IL-4) was introduced into the muscles of 4- and 6-week-old female NOD mice using an in vivo electroporation technique we developed previously. The serum IL-4 levels reached 2000-8000 pg/ml 3 days after the delivery of pCAGGS-IL-4 and remained detectable (>5 pg/ml) for over 4 weeks. In contrast to the previous reports, 88% of the mice treated with pCAGGS-IL-4 developed overt diabetes by 30 weeks of age, while only 25% of nontreated mice and 19% of the mice treated with control pCAGGS developed overt diabetes by then (p<0.01). Therefore, highly expressed IL-4 introduced by in vivo electroporation may have caused a Th1 shift, resulting in the promotion of diabetes in NOD mice. The high serum concentration of cytokines attained by our method is likely to unveil previously unknown cytokine functions.

Animals↗

Congenic mapping and candidate sequencing of susceptibility genes for Type 1 diabetes in the NOD mouse.

Inheritance of type 1 diabetes is polygenic with a major susceptibility gene located in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In addition to MHC-linked susceptibility, a number of susceptibility genes have been mapped outside the MHC in both humans and animal models. In order to localize and identify susceptibility genes for type 1 diabetes, we have developed a series of congenic strains in which either susceptibility intervals from the NOD mouse, a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, were introgressed onto control background genes or protective intervals from control strains were introgressed onto NOD background genes. NOD. CTS-H-2 congenic mice, which possess recombinant MHC with NOD alleles at class II A and E genes, which are candidates for Idd1, revealed that Idd1 consists of multiple components, one in class II (Idd1) and the other adjacent to, but distinct from, Idd1 (Idd16). Phenotypes of NOD. IIS-Idd3 congenic mice, which share the same alleles at both Il2 and Il21 as the NOD mouse, were indistinguishable from the NOD parental strain, indicating that both Il2 and Il21 are candidates for Idd3. In contrast, NOD. IIS-Idd10 congenic mice, which share the same alleles at Fcgr1, a previous candidate for Idd10, as the NOD mouse, were protected from type 1 diabetes, suggesting that Fcgr1 may not be responsible for the Idd10 effect. These data suggest that the use of strain colony closely related to a disease model to find the same candidate mutation on different haplotypes and make congenic strains with this recombinant chromosome, termed ancestral haplotype congenic mapping, is an effective strategy for fine mapping and identification of genes responsible for complex traits.

Animals↗

Association of I27L polymorphism of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha gene with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level.

The serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), which protects against the development of atherosclerosis, is under genetic control. However, the genetic components responsible for the serum HDL-c level are yet to be determined. A recent knockout mouse study demonstrated that hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha (HNF-1 alpha) is an essential transcriptional regulator of HDL-c metabolism. In this study, the association of an HNF-1 alpha gene polymorphism, isoleucine (Ile) 27 leucine (Leu), with lipid parameters, in particular with serum HDL-c level, was studied in 356 unrelated Japanese men. Though no significant difference was observed in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels among the three genotypes, the serum HDL-c level was significantly associated with the genotype (P < 0.01, trend test). Subjects with the Ile/Ile genotype had low serum HDL-c levels, and those with the Leu/Leu genotype had high serum HDL-c levels. These results demonstrate that the HNF-1 alpha gene locus is associated with serum HDL-c level and suggest that the Ile27 allele is a risk marker for atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

[Genetic susceptibility to diabetes and hypertension].

Both type 2 diabetes and hypertension are multifactorial diseases. Several lines of evidence suggested that common genetic factors contribute to both conditions. Genes responsible for obesity and insulin resistance are candidates for common genetic factors. Among candidate genes are genes encoding glycogen synthase, beta 3-adrenergic receptor, glycogen-associated regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase-1, peroxisome proliferator--activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma), leptin and adiponectin. In addition, recent genome scans mapped loci linked to type 2 diabetes, hypertension and/or metabolic syndrome. Identification of genes responsible for both type 2 diabetes and hypertension will increase our understanding of molecular mechanisms of these conditions and facilitate the development of effective methods for prevention and intervention of diabetes and hypertension as well as metabolic syndrome.

Adiponectin↗

Animal models of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome.

Animal models for autoimmune polyglandular syndrome that are either spontaneous or induced by manipulations are presented. In addition, recent cloning of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene responsible for autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type I, and its homologue in mice, Aire, provided the opportunity to study the effect of this gene on autoimmune diseases by producing knockout mice. These animal models make it possible to perform experiments that cannot be performed in humans, which will increase our understanding of the cause and molecular mechanisms of the autoimmune diseases and lead to the development of effective methods for their prevention and intervention.

Animals↗

Sequence analysis of Tnf as a candidate for Idd16.

Linkage analysis and congenic mapping have localized 18 loci (Idd1-18) that contribute to the development of autoimmune type 1 diabetes in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. By using a congenic NOD strain which possesses recombinant MHC from a closely related CTS strain, a susceptible region (Idd16) was mapped to the segment adjacent to, but distinct from class II A and E genes (Idd1). The tumor necrosis factor alpha gene (Tnf), which is located within the Idd16 region, has been suspected to be a candidate gene for type 1 diabetes in the NOD mouse. Although the protein-coding region in Tnf has been sequenced in the NOD mouse and its related strains, the complete upstream region (approximately 1400 bp, including the 5'-untranslated region) has not yet been studied. To study the possible contribution of the transcriptional regulation of Tnf to susceptibility to type 1 diabetes, we determined the complete nucleotide sequences of the NOD strain and its related strain, CTS, in comparison with the non-diabetic control strain, C57BL/6. The nucleotide sequence of the 5'-upstream region in the NOD mouse was identical to that in the C57BL/6 mouse, but different from that in the CTS mouse. In particular, a C to A substitution at position 3408 in the CTS mouse creates a new GATA family binding site, which may be responsible for the lower incidence of type 1 diabetes in the NOD. CTS-H-2 congenic strain despite the presence of the same class II MHC.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Genetic dissection of type 1 diabetes susceptibility gene, Idd3, by ancestral haplotype congenic mapping.

One of the strongest non-MHC susceptibility genes for type 1 diabetes, Idd3, has been mapped to a 0.15-cM segment of chromosome 3, where a strong candidate gene, Il2, encoding cytokine IL2, is located. To prove that the NOD allele of Il2 is responsible for the Idd3 effect, it is necessary to find a recombinant chromosome with the NOD allele of Il2, but with different flanking markers from NOD mice, and to demonstrate that NOD mouse strains that are congenic for the recombinant Il2 region develop type 1 diabetes with similar incidence and age at onset of the disease. As a first step in this approach, we searched for recombinant Il2 region in NOD-related strains derived from the same outbred colony, Jcl:ICR. The same Il2 allele as is found in the NOD mouse was found in four out of seven NOD-related strains, indicating that the NOD allele of Il2 is common in NOD-related strains. One of these strains, IIS, was found to have a recombinant Il2 region with the same Il2 allele as the NOD, but different alleles at flanking markers from the NOD mouse. A preliminary study on a NOD strain congenic for the Il2 region of IIS has shown that the Il2 region of IIS confers susceptibility to type 1 diabetes, suggesting that Il2 may be responsible for the Idd3 effect.

Alleles↗

Leptin gene polymorphism is associated with hypertension independent of obesity.

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that regulates food intake and energy expenditure. Recent functional studies have suggested a direct effect of leptin on blood pressure. In this study we examined the genetic association of the leptin gene polymorphism with obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension. A highly polymorphic tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in the 3'-flanking region of the leptin gene was examined. The alleles of the polymorphism consisted of two groups with different size distributions: a shorter one (class I) and a longer one (class II). The frequency of class I/class I genotype was much higher in hypertensive subjects than in control subjects (13.5% vs. 3.4%; P = 0.0027). No significant difference in body mass index was observed with different genotypes in either patients with hypertension or control subjects. Insulin responses to glucose and insulin sensitivity were not different among patients with different genotypes. The leptin gene polymorphism was associated with hypertension independent of obesity. These data together with recent functional data on the direct effect of leptin on blood pressure suggest that the leptin gene and its product, leptin, are an attractive target for studies on the mechanisms of hypertension and for the development of methods for the prediction, prevention, and therapy for hypertension.

Aged↗

Hypertension attenuates the efficacy of hypoglycemic therapy for preserving coronary flow reserve in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Impairment of coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes has been generally demonstrated; however, there have been few studies investigating CFR in cases of relatively well-controlled diabetes, in distinction to the influence of hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of diabetes and hypertension upon CFR in relatively well-controlled patients. This study included 12 healthy controls (C group) and 57 patients with type 2 diabetes (DM) and/or essential hypertension who were divided into three groups as follows: patients with DM (DM group; n = 24), patients with essential hypertension (HT group; n = 15), and patients with both DM and essential hypertension (DM+HT group; n = 18). We excluded patients with evidence of coronary artery disease and/or left ventricular hypertrophy. We performed transthoracic Doppler recording of diastolic coronary flow velocity (CFV) in the left anterior descending coronary artery at rest and after maximal vasodilation by adenosine infusion (140 microg/kg/min for 3 min) CFR was defined as the ratio of hyperemic to averaged basal peak CFV. The CFR (2.92 +/- 0.46) of the DM group was not decreased compared to that of the C group (2.96 +/- 0.58), although the CFR of the HT (2.33 +/- 0.25) and DM+HT (2.35 +/- 0.25) groups were significantly reduced. Left ventricular mass index, relative wall thickness, and diastolic function were worse in the HT and DM+HT groups than in the C and DM groups. Subjects with concentric left ventricular remodeling had a lower CFR than those with normal left ventricular geometry. In conclusion, adequate hyperglycemic control prevented the progression of coronary microcirculatory disturbance, but concomitant hypertension attenuated the effect.

Adenosine↗

Asian-specific HLA haplotypes reveal heterogeneity of the contribution of HLA-DR and -DQ haplotypes to susceptibility to type 1 diabetes.

To assess the effect of Asian-specific HLA haplotypes on susceptibility to type 1 diabetes, we investigated the association of genotypic combinations of DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes. We studied 132 Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes and 157 control subjects, along with 67 Korean patients and 109 control subjects. DRB1*0405-DQB1*0401 and DRB1*0901-DQB1*0303 were confirmed to be two major susceptible HLA haplotypes in the Japanese population. The frequencies of heterozygotes and homozygotes with DRB1*0405-DQB1*0401 were similarly higher in patients than in control subjects (homozygotes, 5.3% vs. 3.8%; heterozygotes, 48.5% vs. 26.1%). In contrast, homozygotes, but not heterozygotes, with DRB1*0901-DQB1*0303 were more frequent in patients with type 1 diabetes than in control subjects (homozygotes, 12.9% vs. 0.6%; heterozygotes, 22.0% vs. 24.8%). A similar tendency was also observed in the Korean population. In multiple logistic regression analysis, DRB1*0405-DQB1*0401 fitted a dominant model and DRB1*0901-DQB1*0303 fitted a recessive model. These data, which indicate that the contribution of HLA haplotypes to the genetic susceptibility to type 1 diabetes differs depending on the genotypic combination of HLA haplotypes, suggest the importance of extensive analysis of genotypes in studies on HLA and disease association in general.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical heterogeneity in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus].

There is considerable heterogeneity in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. It is of clinical importance to assess such heterogeneous features in each elderly patient, because this would lead to a better setting of target glucose level in the management of diabetes. In the present study, diabetic subjects were clinically investigated from three different aspects; past, current and future. First, the "past" aspect represents how long and how high the hyperglycemia the patient has had. Our cross-sectional investigation showed a broad range of duration of diabetes as well as of degree of hyperglycemia, and as a consequence, diabetic complications were diverse. Second, the "current" aspect implies the degree of insulin deficiency and its resistance. According to our observation, elderly patients had diverse degrees of impaired insulin secretion, together with age-related resistance to insulin. Third, "future" aspect refers to the expected length of life, which largely depends on the current age. The complication status (not limited to diabetic complications), however, also affects clinical course and death rates, indicating diversity of life expectancies due to complications besides current age. Thus, the present analysis showed that elderly individuals with diabetes mellitus exhibit a remarkable heterogeneity. The present study also indicated the clinical merit of assessment with the three aspects; past, current and future, in assessing clinical diversity of elder patients with diabetes.

Aged↗

[TNF-alpha].

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Animals↗